Paving apparatus

Abstract

A road shoulder paving box, movable along a surface to be covered with paving material including carriage. The carriage rolls or skids along the surface to be paved and provides a receiver for accepting and holding paving material. The carriage also includes a container supported by the carriage having a chamber formed by a base and side wall portion. Such chamber includes an entrance and exit, as well as a movable partition for changing the volumetric capacity and the dimension of the chamber exit. The receiver and chamber are connected on the carriage of the paving apparatus such that paving material is transported or augered from the container to the receiver chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A paving apparatus movable along a surface to be covered with paving material comprising:   a. a carriage including a surface capable of traveling relative to the surface to be paved;   b. a receiver supported by said carriage for accepting and holding paving material;   c. a container supported by said carriage having a bottom portion and a wall portion extending from said bottom portion forming a chamber, said chamber having an entrance and an exit;   d. a partition forming a portion of said chamber with said wall portion, said partition including means for moving said partition to change the volumetric capacity of said chamber and a dimension of said chamber exit, thereby, during movement of said carriage; and   e. means for transporting paving material from said receiver to said container.   
     
     
       2. The paving apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for transporting paving material from said receiver to said container includes a auger disposed in said container. 
     
     
       3. The paving apparatus of claim 1 in which additionally comprises means for regulating the quality of paving material existing said chamber. 
     
     
       4. The paving apparatus of claim 1 which additionally comprises means for determining the surface characteristics of the paving material existing said chamber. 
     
     
       5. The paving apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for determining the surface characteristics of the paving material includes a flexible member and means for pressing said flexible member onto the upper surface of said paving material exiting said chamber. 
     
     
       6. The paving apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for moving said partition to change the volumetric capacity of said chamber includes a lead screw spanning at least a portion of said chamber, said partition threadingly engaging said lead screw, and further includes means for rotating said lead screw. 
     
     
       7. The paving apparatus of claim 6 in which said means for moving said partition further includes means for guiding the motion of said partition relative to said lead screw. 
     
     
       8. The paving apparatus of claim 3 which additionally comprises a platform for supporting an operator of said apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The paving apparatus of claim 8 in which said means for regulating the quantity of paving material exiting said chamber includes a threaded member, a plate having a portion threadingly engaging said threaded member and means for manually turning said threaded member accessible from said platform. 
     
     
       10. The paving apparatus of claim 9 in which said means for determining the surface characteristics of the paving material exiting said chamber includes a threaded member, a flexible plate rotatable on a bar supported to said carriage, said bar including a portion threadingly engaging said threaded member, and means for manually turning said threaded member accessible from said platform.